Just when it seemed like the sky was falling, and the mighty All Blacks were ready to lose their grip on rugby dominance, order was restored. 

New Zealand's 36-0 shellacking of Australia proved that they are still in fact the team to beat. And yet, despite the huge win, the Kiwis have given up their #1 World Rugby Ranking, after holding the top spot for just shy of 10 years. 

So, what did we learn this weekend, and what does it mean moving forward?

1.) The All Blacks are... who we thought they were

Any indications that New Zealand were starting to falter as they look for their third consecutive Webb Ellis Cup were squashed this past weekend, as they pitched a shutout en route to a 36-0 victory over Australia. 

With questions swirling around coach Steve Hansen's decision to play both Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett at the same time, the two playmaking flyhalves seemed to have finally found their rhythm together this weekend. 

On paper, one would expect the combination to be dynamite. They are arguably the best two creators in the game, so having the both of them playing at once would seem to cause defenses all sorts of headaches. But, as with every new pairing, there have been some growing pains. 

The All Blacks barely hung on to beat Argentina in Round 1 of the Rugby Championship, before drawing at home with South Africa and taking one on the chin to Australia in Perth. 

But, despite calls for Barrett to move back to his customary role in the #10 shirt, Hansen stuck with his experiment again this weekend, and boy did it finally pay off. It's looking like the ABs have started to get comfortable with the new combination and are developing into the monster many of us expected to see come World Cup time. 

Additionally, All Blacks supporters will have to be encouraged with the overall depth in the side. Cracking performances from wingers Sevu Reece and George Bridge, as well as second rower Patrick Tuipolotu bodes well heading into Japan. 

New Zealand is still New Zealand and, even if they lost their #1 ranking, they are still the favorites to lift the World Cup in two months. 

2.) The new World #1 is... Wales?

Slowly, quietly, yet surely the Welshmen have been on a torrent winning pace since the 2018 Six Nations concluded. 

Warren Gatland's side have won 15 of their last 16 contests, defeating every tier one side in the world. Except New Zealand. However, despite not actually beating the All Blacks, Wales has overtaken them as the top-ranked team in the world. 

Of course, the #1 ranking doesn't actually mean much at all. As Warren Gatland said, the real prize comes in a couple of months. It is a nice accolade to have, and a pleasant representation of the work the Welsh team has put together over the past 18 months, but it means nothing if Wales doesn't perform well in Japan. 

So, the question is, can Wales realistically make a run at the Webb Ellis Cup?

The answer is yes, but it depends a great deal on how well Wales can stay fit moving forward. They are already down two of their best players, Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe, the No. 8 breaking his collarbone in camp and the flyhalf Anscombe tearing his ACL in last week's matchup with England. 

With two superstar players already down before the World Cup has even started, many Welsh fans are experiencing nightmarish flashbacks to 2015, when virtually the entire Wales backline missed out on the World Cup due to injury. 

Watch Wales Make History Again (US Subscribers)

Fans have pleaded with Gatland to take it easy in these Summer Tests and preserve their players for the more important games. However, the skipper has elected to play a first-choice side against England each of the last two weeks, going 1-1 in the process. From Gatland's perspective, it's about getting the boys battle-tested now so they build that trust and belief in each other come October. 

It's hard to argue with the tactics of a man who has led Wales to four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams, one World Cup semifinal, one World Cup quarterfinal, and now the #1 ranking in the world. 

Wales will have two more Summer Tests before they ship off to Japan, and US-based subscribers can watch those LIVE and On Demand here on FloRugby

August 31

Wales vs Ireland

September 7

Ireland vs Wales

3.) Scotland has work to do

If it was up to the Scots, they'd play every single game at Murrayfield. However, in the world of sports you don't just get to play solely on your home turf. And, at the moment, this seems to be a major problem for Scotland. 

This Saturday, they were blasted in Nice by a French team that looked more inspired, more cohesive, and more fit than they did. Granted, playing without world-class flyhalf Finn Russell is always going to be a huge blow for the Scots, but losing 32-3 is downright poor no matter how you slice it. 

The up-and-down nature of Scotland's rugby team has to be alarming for fans. While they've shown the ability to overcome a 31-0 deficit against England, it's mind-boggling how they can come out in their very next game together and lay an egg like they did Saturday. 

If they aren't careful, they could find themselves in a real tussle come the last game of pool play against the hosts Japan, with the winner likely moving on to face either South Africa or New Zealand in the quarterfinals. 

It's well within the Scots' abilities to actually knock off one of those superpowers, but they will have to string together some consistency first, otherwise they won't even get that opportunity. 

They'll have three more games to get it right before they square off in the World Cup opener with Ireland, the first of which will be a chance for revenge over France this Saturday. 

US-Based subscribers can watch two of these matchups LIVE or 
On Demand here on FloRugby

August 24

Scotland vs France

September 6

Scotland vs Georgia

4.) Argentina has forgotten how to win

One of the teams that always seems to turn up in World Cup years is Argentina. The Pumas have reached the semifinals in three of the past five World Cups, but at the moment it's looking like it will be three of the past six. 

The Argies have lost nine consecutive games dating back to last year, and with them slated to play in the proverbial "Pool of Death" at this year's World Cup, the going is only going to get tougher. 

Despite the enormous success of the Jaguares this year in Super Rugby, it doesn't appear the Pumas have garnered that same winning magic. They have found multiple ways to lose games, and with France and England on the horizon in Japan, they'll have to figure out a way to close the deal in the close contests they keep finding themselves in. 

Four of Argentina's last five defeats have come by less than seven points, but close-loss bonus points only get you so far.

By all right the Pumas have some of the game's best players. Hooker Augustin Creevy, flanker Pablo Matera, and fullback Emiliano Boffelli each could start on every team in the world. 

Flanker Marcos Kremer, lock Tomas Lavanini, and flyhalf Nico Sanchez would be in most starting XVs on the planet as well. The boys simply need to find their winning mojo, and turn these tight losses into victories. 

Given their talent, and their propensity for showing up in World Cups, don't count Argentina out just yet, even if it appears they may have forgotten how to win. 

5.) England will be a favorite

Yes, England did lose in Cardiff this weekend in a somewhat ugly affair with the Welsh, but don't read too much into that. England is loaded with depth, and Eddie Jones seems to know what it takes in a World Cup setting. 

Jones, in contrast to the Gatland approach, has held back somewhat during these Summer Test Series games against Wales. Eddie has elected to rest some of his key starters during these matchups, so as to preserve them for the grueling stretch ahead, which sees them face off with both France and Argentina at the World Cup before knockout play even begins. 

Still, despite playing a less-than-full-strength team against Wales, England still won comfortably at home, and were a held-up maul away from drawing in Wales. This is a testament to England's deep roster, and a sign that, should players break down over the course of the World Cup, they are well-equipped to handle it and pick up results. 

Jones also has a proven track record in World Cups. In 2003, he served as head coach of the Wallabies, taking them to extra-time of the World Cup final before Jonny Wilkinson's memorable drop kick sunk the Aussies. 

See that 2003 Final Again

Then, in 2007, Eddie was a key member of the Springboks coaching staff that defeated England in the final to win the World Cup. 

Then, in 2015, Eddie Jones led the most astonishing upset in rugby history, as his Japan side took down the mighty Springboks in the opening game of the tournament. His team went 3-1, but were unlucky to miss out on the quarterfinals, after both South Africa and Scotland bested them on points difference. 

So, between England's extraordinary depth and Eddie Jones' World Cup magic, don't be at all surprised to see England amongst the last two or four teams standing in October. 

England will play in two more Summer Tests before they begin their World Cup campaign and US-based subscribers can watch those LIVE and On Demand here on FloRugby

August 24

England vs Ireland

September 6

England vs Italy